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Area data

Bellingham, WA — ZIP 98226

Population: 46,782 (Census ACS)

The median home value in ZIP 98226 (Bellingham, WA) is $654,436 — down 0.6% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $465,312 after a median 42 days on market. Typical rent runs $2,038/month. 15 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Moderate, with avalanche, icestorm, coastalflooding the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 7.5% above the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$654,436

Median home value

-0.6%

1-year change

42

Median days on market

Relatively Moderate

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$654,436
1-year appreciation
-0.6%
3-year appreciation
+3.7%
5-year appreciation
+12.8%
10-year appreciation
+91.0%
All-time peak (2025-02)
$664,754
House Price Index (state)
588.1 (+2.2% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$465,312
Median list price
$425,000
Median price per sqft
$384
1-year sale-price change
+17.5%
Median days on market
42 days
Homes sold (recent period)
35
For-sale inventory
186
Sale-to-list ratio
99.2%
Active listings
22
1-year forecast
-0.1%
Days to pending
34 days
New listings (monthly)
73

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Typical rent
$2,038/mo
1-year rent change
0.0%
Studio fair-market rent
$1,083/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$1,354/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$1,680/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$2,183/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$2,519/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Above Average)
107.5 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
13.1¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$17.60/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
6.66%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.00%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
15
Elementary schools
9
Middle schools
0
High schools
5
Charter schools
1
School districts serving the area
Intergenerational High School, Bellingham School District, Ferndale School District
Schools include
Intergenerational High School, Roosevelt Elementary School, Silver Beach Elementary School, Squalicum High School, Visions (Seamar Youth Center)

Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively Moderate
Top hazards (county)
avalanche, iceStorm, coastalFlooding, coldWave, earthquake
Notable hazard ratings (county)
avalanche: Very High · coastalFlooding: Relatively Moderate · coldWave: Relatively Moderate · earthquake: Relatively Moderate · heatWave: Relatively Moderate · iceStorm: Very High
FEMA flood zone
C
Flood risk level
Minimal
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 43% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
42.8%
Radon potential (county)
Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
1
Nearest Superfund site
Oeser Co (3.7 mi)
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
79.0°F
Average high
80.0°F
Average low
78.0°F
Annual precipitation
48.3 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
8a (extreme annual low 10 to 15°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Air quality

Air quality rating
Good
Median AQI (annual)
31
Days with Good air quality
327
Days with Moderate air quality
33
Highest AQI recorded (year)
94

Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
8.5 / 20
Transit service frequency
-99,999
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
19,107
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
13,848

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
3
Nearest national park
San Juan Island National Historical Park (34 mi)
National parks include
San Juan Island National Historical Park, Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, North Cascades National Park
Airports within 30 mi
33
Nearest airport
Bellingham International Airport (BLI) (4 mi)
Nearest major airport
Bellingham International Airport (BLI) (4 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
339
Hospitals include
ST VINCENT'S BIRMINGHAM, MOBILE INFIRMARY MEDICAL CENTER, MEDICAL WEST, AN AFFILIATE OF UAB HEALTH SYSTEM
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
3.0 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
5.0 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Poor (3.4 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
+255 tax filers

Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1,995
Housing built before 1970
14.2%
Housing built 2000 or later
40.7%
Median annual property tax
$4,439
Mean commute to work
17 min
Households with broadband internet
83.7%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
78,155
Average weekly wage
$1,142
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Construction
Annual residential building permits (county)
659

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

ZIP 98226State medianUS median
Median home value$654,436$504,993$289,727
Median sale price$465,312$510,000$325,000
Median days on market42 days29 days51 days
Typical rent$2,038/mo$2,041/mo$1,808/mo
Median annual property tax$4,439$3,381$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the median home value in ZIP 98226?
$654,436.
What is the median sale price in ZIP 98226?
$465,312.
How long do homes take to sell in ZIP 98226?
Median days on market: 42 days.
What is typical rent in ZIP 98226?
Typical rent: $2,038/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in ZIP 98226?
Overall risk: Relatively Moderate (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: avalanche, iceStorm, coastalFlooding, coldWave, earthquake.
Is ZIP 98226 in a flood zone?
Minimal (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone C.
What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 98226?
Risk to homes is higher than 43% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in ZIP 98226?
Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 98226?
1 current or proposed National Priorities List site within 5 miles (EPA). Nearest site: Oeser Co, 3.7 mi.
How many schools serve ZIP 98226?
15 schools (9 elementary, 5 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
Is ZIP 98226 walkable?
Walkability index: 8.5/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in ZIP 98226?
Good. Median AQI: 31. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in ZIP 98226?
Regional Price Parity: 107.5 (100 = US average) (Above Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

Nearby ZIP codes

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →

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